Does anybody know where the drain plugs are on a Mk1?
We have had very heavy rain over the last few days and I found around 4 inches of water in both foot wells and behind the seats, and want to drain the water out but cannot locate the drain plugs
Thanks
Look on page 2 of the faq on the top of this section
Well lets get this the right way round.
How do you stop the water getting in.
How do you get it out.
There are no drainplugs in the car is it is designed not to get the water in to the part you sit in.
Therefore some old towels and dry the car out.
Second you will have to lift the carpets and get the ECU which is on the front passenger firewall dried.
Now how to stop getting the water in.
Behind the seatbelt towere at each side there are drains that you can see by getting someone to lift the hood.
Go on to YOUTUBE and search MX5 Cabin drains for a video on how to clear them it is a bit of a hasle.
Then at each sill jacking point that is at the back and front of each sill so 4 locations there are two tiny drains at the jacking points that a small screwdriver will clear and water may come out the sills.
Again search for a video as that is easier to get the idea rather than tyrying to explain the job to you.
There are no plugs just open drain pipes, or at least they should be open. Feel around behind and below the seat belt towers. There is a plastic tray, you can feel the top of the pipe opening with your finger tip toward the rear and on the inboard side of the trays.
If you use a length of net curtain hanger wire, the white springy cable type commonly used, you can feed that down the tubes and give it a few spins. Look underneath the car and you will see it poking out from the lower end of the drain pipe, just pull it out and repeat if you need to.
also check the small drain slots either side of the jacking points on the sills, front and rear. You can get a modeling knife or a small pairing knife blade up into them which will clear any blockage. Be prepared for loads of water to come flushing out.
Good Luck
Am l right in saying that the tube can become un-attached,so caution has to be used when cleaning, as its a pain to re-attach it?
I use a cable tie to clear the sill drains…
This is what you need to keep those Drains clear
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Flexible-Cleaning-Brush-4-Trombones-/260367200306?hash=item3c9f183032
Rod
PS - To avoid the “Tubes” coming free all I tend to do is feed the cleaner in at the top and pull it out gently from under the car. No problems in 5 years of use.
Hi BobM cannot find any reference to faq’s at the top of this page.
Drumtochty I tried the towels but with the amount of water in the car I’m gonna need more towel’s than we possess, the water got in mainly because my back window is broken and the cover which I bought from the MX5 club blew away from the back window allowing the deluge in.
The problem is we have had three torrential downpours with more rain due to come.
So my problem is getting the water out, I know there are some rubber grommet’s underneath the car just under the back of the seats, and wondered if these grommets came out to allow the water to drain out, but cannot find any reference to them anywhere.
I have cleaned out the main drainage area but that is actually located higher than the water level, so it won’t drain al the water out.
Hence my question.
BG have found those drainage area’s and also cleaned them out, but still not sure what the rubber grommets are for on the underside of the car about a foot in from the doors
Jacton, I think those grommets are the ones in the rear wheel arches which allow access to the interior of the sills. Lots of guides to rustproofing the MX5 refer to taking these out to give you access for inspection and to apply the rustproofing fluid.
I don’t know about ones on the underside.
Also referring to the small slots near the jacking points, I remember reading about a Mazda dealer fix which involved enlarging these slots and applying zinc primer (in case the tool left any bare metal).
Would anyone care to comment please?
Sorry that your car has got wet. I would guess you cannot get ti under cover - or you would have already!
Hi BearNumberOne thanks for your post too.
As you guessed I cannot get it under cover, but have just been checking it out again and the boot is dry as is the Engine compartment so I am hoping its just the cabin that’s got wet. I have not tried to start it yet as am not sure if there is any water damage to the wiring circuits, don’t really know enough about car’s to risk it until its dried out.
The front grommets actually come up just under the seat when the seat is completely forward, and they seem to be just grommets, there is no wire’s or other tubes, pipes etc, so can only image that they are emergency drainage points, but do not want to break the grommets until I find out exactly what they are, but they are approx the diameter of my index finger.
I really appreciate every bodies help